How to Throw a Rustic Chic Housewarming BBQ

After completing a 9 month long total house renovation and a big move to the burbs, taking a break from any extra planning or projects is the most sensible thing to do, right? Well not for me! As someone who has a difficult time letting grass grow under my feet, the only logical thing in my mind was to plan a housewarming party for our family and friends. I mean, how could you not celebrate the completion of a long, tedious and often very stressful project? For newly married couples, I’d be cautious buying a complete fixer up within your first year of marriage. But hey, we got through it!

I knew our modest cape wouldn't be able to fit all 60 guests comfortably so using our backyard was a must! This sparked my idea to have a semi-rustic BBQ/comfort food themed party. I sourced out most of the décor and essential supplies from my favorite online retailers (Zazzle, Amazon, The Christmas Tree Shops and WebstaurantStore) and of course scouted out the latest merchandise at HomeGoods, which became my biweekly routine. String lights, lanterns and checkered table clothes all added to my BBQ vision.

For the food, I worked with a local restaurant that provided drop off catering and made some of the dishes myself. The menu featured pulled pork, mac & cheese and grilled corn, just to name a few and were a huge hit with the crowd! I have to admit; putting together flower arrangements isn’t my forte so I used a local florist for the centerpieces. I bought the vases myself to save on costs, showed her pictures of exactly what flowers I wanted to use and she flawlessly made the arrangements. A few other DIY projects and making sure the little details were in place way in advance made for a truly stress free and enjoyable experience.

The party went off without a hitch and most importantly guests enjoyed themselves! Perfect weather, good food and great company is the recipe for a killer party and I think it was a success! Looking to plan your own backyard BBQ? Send me a message if you’d like more details. I’d love to help!

Check out more photos from the day over on Instagram!